X, although beloved of music journalists, are one of American punk’s most under-acknowledged. They took a tilt at fame in the mid-Eighties with the radio-friendly Ain’t Love Grand album and its lead single “Burning House of Love”, but it wasn’t to be. They remained a connoisseurs’ choice (inarguable evidence of their abilities is the stunning 1983 tune “I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts”). Now they reach the end of the line, persuasively so, with a wistful but sonically punkin’ final album.
Led by the vocal spar-harmonising duo of John Doe and Excene Cervenka, the Los Angeles four-piece were never predictable, their new wave sound interwoven with poetic lyricism and musical toe-tipping everywhere from country-folk to 4AD Records-style alt-pop. They reconstituted their original line-up early this century but only went back to the studio one album ago for the energized Alphabetland album. Smoke & Fiction is a power pop concept piece, looking back at a band-life well-lived.
The sense of loss is poignant, as on songs such as “The Way It Is” (“Knowing you gotta go, but that don’t make it easier”) and the Cervanka-sung title track (“My face turns to sorrowin’ when I think about tomorrowin’”). But it’s matched by a fiery celebratory zip that powers everything, lifted by the bullish guitar of Billy Zoom and drums of D.J.Bonebrake, as exemplified by the Rezillos-like rockin' of "Sweet 'til the Bitter End".
Those after sheer Ramones-ish pelt can turn to “Struggle”, while those wishing for the band’s penchant for not taking obvious route will seek out the slo-mo’ crunch-funk of “Face in the Moon”. But perhaps the most affecting cut is “Big Black X”, a rollicking, yearning, diaristic set of snapshots from their memory banks (“A naked Christmas tree on fire in a Cherokee alley/Silent movie genuflecting dream/Hangin’ off bumpers and scrapin’ off tar and leather/LA Riverbed/Drag strip on acid/And something about a basement”). Sung with longing, it exemplifies the spirit of this potently alive goodbye album. “Stay awake and don’t get taken,” runs the chorus. As good a philosophy for living as exists.
Below: Watch the video for "Big Black X" by Los Angeles punk band X
